Magnetic strip removable portion format

Abstract

A system for producing removable portions having personalized information, for mass-distributable packets, by single-pass manufacturing, in which a printed web is slit into two ribbons, one of which is then folded and glued upon itself to create a multi-ply ribbon that appears to be of heavier stock than the original paper, and a label containing a magnetic strip is applied. The magnetic strip can be encoded with information personalized to the recipient or the advertiser. Alternatively, the multi-ply ribbon can be created by gluing together multiple ribbons, or by a combination of folding ribbons and gluing ribbons. The multi-ply ribbon is die cut into an inside portion and an outside portion and married to the other ribbon, after which the outside portion is removed, leaving the inner portion as removable portions. Alternatively, the folded ribbon can be kiss cut after it has been married to the other ribbon. The removable portions can be coated or laminated to simulate plastic and can be printed with information personalized for the advertiser or for the recipient.

Description

PRIORITY [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 974,344, filed on Oct. 27, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 553,368, filed on Mar. 15, 2004, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention is generally directed to an in-line finishing system for manufacturing a heavier-stock, removable portion, having personalized information encoded thereon, to incorporate in a mass-distributable packet, in a single-pass manufacturing process, using no premanufactured portions. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Advertisers commonly use mass-distributable packets to promote their products. These packets are distributed by mail, by insert into newspapers or other periodicals, by hand delivery, or otherwise. [0004] Advertisers often wish to include a removable portion in the advertising materials. A removable portion is generally a piece of smaller dimensions than the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] Mass-distributable packets of inserts with outer wraps can already be made in one continuous manufacturing process, using no premanufactured portions. The present invention can be used to incorporate a removable portion having personalized information, encoded and trackable, into such a mass-distributable advertising packet in a single-pass system, with greatly reduced alignment problems.

Problems solved by technology

Because the removable portion is usually of a heavier stock paper than the advertising materials, the removable portion cannot be easily printed on the same web press at the same time as the advertising materials.

Some printing equipment cannot print paper of the thickness desired for a removable portion, so a separate press is required, either in-house or at an outside vendor.

Problems arise in this current method of manufacture.

Utilizing a second printing apparatus for the removable portion adds capital expense and labor costs.

Using an outside vendor adds costs and creates quality control problems.

Regardless of who prepares the removable portions or where the removable portions are printed, the tip-on process can cause alignment problems and increase make-ready time.

Placing the preprinted removable portions in precise alignment on the advertising packets is difficult.

The alignment problem is exacerbated if there is a need to turn the web to an upward angle in order to introduce a fold in the packet, after the removable portion has been married to the web.

The personalized information is therefore somewhat limited, such as the name and address of the recipient or the name and location of the nearest retail store for the advertiser.

The conventional format does not permit these options.

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